In 1936, France’s new socialist government ordained that the French people could have an annual national holiday. An industry promptly grew up around summer vacations, and bicycle tandems became popular; some manufacturers started to make motorized versions to cash in on the tandem craze – a much faster way for a cycling partnership to get down to the south coast – but production was interrupted by the war.
Production resumed post-war. But by 1953 or so, scooters had become the new chic two-wheeler and ‘old-fashioned’ motorized tandems soon became obsolete.
1951 Tandemoto Narcisse
98cc Sachs Engine
Frame No 73
CYCLOTANDEM NARCISSE #171
In 2007, I owned another Narcisse, with serial number 171. I used it for a photoshoot (above); below, you can compare it to a Derny Tandem I owned at that time.
The two French fellows pictured below enjoy riding their Narcisse.